Incumbent president, director of local library running for Beach Haven School Board seats

The candidates running for the two seats available on the Beach Haven School Board are incumbent President Irene Hughes and Jean Frazier, who has been the director of the Beach Haven Public Library since 2010.

Photo via News 12
The school is governed by a five-member board. 

Hughes, who is up for reelection, was elected to the board in November 2013. She was unanimously voted to be the new president in 2015 after former, long-time President Mary Louise Bellingeri decided not to run for reelection after serving 20 years.

“My goals continue to be the same as the board I have been lucky enough to sit with: to provide the children of Beach Haven an excellent education they deserve, that the community can be proud of, in a manner fiscally responsible to the taxpayers,” Hughes stated.

She said she would be happy to remain president of the board.

“It has been an honor to serve this sitting board as president. If the next board were to elect me to that role, then, yes, I would gladly fill that role,” said Hughes.

A former elementary school librarian in Bucks County, Pa., for more than 25 years, Frazier said she is eager to bring her “life experiences to benefit the children and taxpayers of our town” as a candidate for the local school board.

“My goals for the Beach Haven School include improving the library education program and school library facilities,” she said. “Also I wish to help provide the best overall efficient education for our students while taking into account budgetary requirements. Our taxpayers deserve to have the best for their students at a reasonable, obtainable cost.”

Frazier has also been an active member of the Beach Haven Community Arts Program for many years, often volunteering at the concerts in the park. She is currently vice president of the organization.

Current school board member Kathy Kelly is not running for reelection. Members Carol Labin, Meredith O’Donnell and Jen Tomlinson are still within their terms.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.